DR. IZABELLA WENTZ, PHARM D

Thyroid Pharmacist

Food Sensitivities & Hashimoto's

Food Sensitivities and Hashimoto’s

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I first set out to discover lifestyle interventions to help me heal from Hashimoto’s shortly after being diagnosed. My doctor prescribed me thyroid medication. He told me I would be taking it for the rest of my life, and that was the end of the story.

Intuitively, I knew there had to be a better way, so I sought out a functional medicine practitioner who prescribed food sensitivity testing for me. After three days of avoiding the reactive foods that showed up on my test (gluten and dairy being my top triggers), my acid reflux, bloating, irritable bowel syndrome and lifelong stomach pains went away. The pain in my arms went away a few weeks after. Uncovering my food sensitivities was my first step into the world of natural health and healing, and has changed the course of my life and career.

Discovering and addressing food sensitivities can be one of the most powerful interventions for people with Hashimoto’s. In this article, I’d like to explore:

  • The most common food sensitivities for those with Hashimoto’s
  • How to test for food sensitivities
  • Tips for maintaining a specialized diet
  • How to incorporate foods back into your diet

How are Food Sensitivities and Allergies Different?

Though the terminology often gets confused, food sensitivities are different than food allergies. Food allergies are generated by the IgE branch of the immune system, and reactions will usually show up within minutes of ingesting the reactive food. Reactions can include an itchy rash, throat or tongue swelling, shortness of breath, vomiting, lightheadedness, and low blood pressure; and can often be life threatening. Shellfish and nuts are the most common foods that result in an IgE food allergy.

Food sensitivities, on the other hand, are governed by different branches of the immune system: the IgA, IgM and IgG branches. Interestingly, the IgG branch is also thought to be responsible for creating thyroid antibodies in many cases of Hashimoto’s. These reactions may take as long as a few hours or even a few days to manifest, and may include acid reflux, bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, palpitations, joint pain, anxiety, tingling, or headaches.

The Most Common Offenders

The most common food sensitivities found in people with Hashimoto’s are gluten, dairy, soy, grains (corn, in particular), nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers), nuts, and seeds.

In surveying my readers and clients, I’ve found that about 93 percent have felt better on a gluten free diet. Another 75 percent reported feeling better on a dairy free diet, 73 percent felt better grain free, and another 60 percent said they felt better soy free. Egg and nightshade free diets were helpful 40 percent and 35 percent of the time, respectively.

Gluten

Gluten is a protein found in barley, rye, and wheat. It’s a staple in the Western diet that’s found in most breads, cereals, and pastas, but can also be hidden in many other food products.

The most severe form of gluten response is seen in people with celiac disease. An estimated one percent of people (about three million worldwide) have celiac disease. Those with celiac disease must stay completely gluten free in both their diet and their lifestyle, or else they will have significant, life-affecting symptoms.

Reactions to gluten, many of which are also considered typical hypothyroid symptoms, include bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux, stomach pains, brain fog, fatigue, hair loss, weight gain, cold intolerance, anxiety, palpitations, joint pain, carpal tunnel, allergies, and panic attacks.

Not long after having been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, I had been tested for celiac disease as well as IgE food reactions, but both of those tests were negative. I decided to try IgG food sensitivity testing, and the tests revealed that I had IgG reactions to gluten, as well as to dairy proteins (whey and casein).

Soon after learning of my gluten and dairy sensitivities, I came across a condition known as non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). People with NCGS have celiac-like reactions to gluten, yet they don’t test positive to the typical IgA celiac antibodies — nor do they experience the characteristic damage to intestinal cells that is seen in celiac disease.

My personal and clinical experience has shown that gluten sensitivity is one of the most significant triggers in Hashimoto’s, and most people experience significant health improvements when they remove gluten from their diets. In fact, removing gluten can help reverse intestinal permeability (which is always a precursor to autoimmune disease) as well as reduce one’s thyroid antibody levels! You can read more about the benefits of a gluten free diet for Hashimoto’s here.

Dairy

Dairy is another common reactive food in people with Hashimoto’s. Lactose intolerance, which involves a lack of enzymes that prevents the proper breakdown of the milk sugar lactose, is just one type of dairy reaction — but it is not the same as dairy sensitivity, which, like gluten sensitivity, is mediated by the IgG branch of the immune system. People with Hashimoto’s are more likely than others to have sensitivities to the proteins found in dairy: casein and whey.

Cow’s milk contains proteins that are different than the proteins found in human milk. A person with intestinal permeability is likely to recognize these proteins as a foreign invader and make antibodies to the proteins.

As I mentioned, these antibodies are mediated by the IgG branch of the immune system and are known as a Type IV Delayed Hypersensitivity reaction. Hashimoto’s is also considered Type IV Delayed Hypersensitivity, and experience shows that eating foods that stimulate the release of the IgG antibodies and promote a Type IV Delayed Hypersensitivity response will also result in an increase in thyroid antibodies.

Many people believe that non-cow milk options may be safer. However, goat’s milk and sheep’s milk proteins are very similar to cow’s milk proteins and have about a 60-75 percent cross-reactivity rate, meaning that 60-75 percent of people who are sensitive to cow’s milk casein will also react to goat and sheep’s milk casein. Once a person becomes sensitized to the casein protein, they will react to all forms of dairy, with the possible exception of camel milk.

The most common ways people react to dairy include gut reactions (bloating, diarrhea, and acid reflux), as well as lung reactions (coughing, asthma, sinusitis, post nasal drip, and mucus) and skin reactions (eczema, rashes, or acne).

For me, dairy was a greater reactive food than gluten. Eating even tiny amounts of dairy resulted in coughing, bloating, acid reflux, joint pains, and diarrhea. I’ve been dairy free for years now, and my food reactions are all but gone. However, a small amount of dairy will still trigger a cough for me.

Soy

The third food that those with Hashimoto’s may be sensitive to is soy. Many gluten free products contain soy, which can be problematic for thyroid patients. It can block the activity of the TPO enzyme and worsen the autoimmune attack on the thyroid. It would seem that my own thyroid condition became worse after eating soy-containing gluten free products. After only one month of giving up all soy, however, my thyroid antibodies dropped from 800 IU/mL to 380 IU/mL!

A soy sensitivity will often present as gut symptoms such as abdominal pain, loose stools, nausea or vomiting, while a significant number of people will also experience mental symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, brain fog, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and insomnia.

Soy can be hard to avoid, as it’s not only found in foods such as edamame beans, soy milk, tofu, tempeh, miso, and soy sauce, but also in many processed foods and even supplements. Ingredients to look out for include soy lecithin, bean curd, hydrolyzed soy protein, soybeans, edamame, natto, okara, yuba, tamari, olean, gum arabic, carob, and hydrolyzed vegetable protein.

Food Sensitivity Testing

When we eat the foods that our body is sensitive to, on a daily basis, it is very difficult to connect the foods with the symptoms we are having. For example, people who continue to drink milk multiple times a day might be tired, have joint pain, and feel bloated on a daily basis, but won’t be able to pinpoint the symptoms to a possible dairy sensitivity.

This is because every time we eat a problematic food, the body becomes depleted in its ability to protect itself, and the reactions become more chronic, making it more difficult to identify food sensitivities.

That is why I believe testing is so important.

There are a multitude of different food sensitivity tests out there, and none of them are perfect. Some will present with false positives; others, false negatives. You may have to try more than one approach to uncover all of the foods that are causing your symptoms, but there are two types of tests that I recommend most often.

Elimination Diet

The best place to start when trying to identify your own particular food sensitivities is with an elimination diet. The first step will be to remove gluten, dairy, soy, and other foods that you suspect you may be reactive to. These may include fruits and vegetables you’ve been eating all the time. Avoid these foods completely for at least two weeks. During this time, make note of your symptoms. Which have improved? Which still remain?

After you have spent a period of weeks without the suspected food irritants, try slowly adding them back in one at a time, waiting several days between each food to notice if any of your symptoms return. Many people will notice an immediate reaction when they reintroduce a food they are sensitive to. If you experience this, take this as a very strong clue that you should avoid that food! (Read more about how to do an elimination diet here.)

If, after removing gluten, dairy, soy and other foods you suspected were problematic, you are still experiencing symptoms of food reactivity, it might be time to dig a little deeper.

Test Kits

Some food sensitivities can be harder than others to pinpoint, and some people may need to see the numbers on paper before they are able to accept that they will need to give up a food they love in order to feel better. In those cases, I recommend food sensitivity testing through a lab. While most conventional medical professionals and insurance companies consider food sensitivity tests to be “experimental”, I can testify that as I “experimented” with removing the foods the tests found to be reactive for me, I felt dramatically better!

The test that I found to be highly accurate for myself and my clients is the Alletess Lab food sensitivity test. If a food comes up positive on that test, you’ll know that you are sensitive to it and need to eliminate it from your diet in order to feel better.

Alletess Lab works primarily through integrative and functional medicine physicians, so if you have one, you can speak to them about ordering the test for you. I’ve also worked with MyMedLab to offer Alletess food sensitivity testing for self-order, without a doctor’s prescription. The test kit comes with a blood spot collection paper, and can be mailed to just about anywhere in the world.

MyMedLab offers two options to test for the most commonly eaten foods: the 184 Food Panel and the 96 Food Panel. I began with the 96 Food Panel and found that it was enough to uncover most of my food triggers. I now repeat the 184 food Panel on an annual basis to be sure that I’m staying on top of potential triggers, as our sensitivities and reactions to foods can change with time.

How Do I Eat This Way?

While it can be quite liberating to figure out which foods are problematic for you, and eliminating them can make you feel so much better than you have in years, you may find yourself asking, “How can I continue to eat this way, especially when the foods I am so sensitive to are so prevalent in our modern diets?”

While it can be quite challenging to adapt your whole way of eating, I have found many tips and tricks to modifying my diet for Hashimoto’s that make me feel great, and make the sacrifices feel easy and doable.

Cook Your Meals at Home

When you’re avoiding certain foods, particularly foods like wheat and dairy that are so prevalent in our culture, the best strategy is to cook most of your meals at home. At least until you’ve mastered your diet and know where you can order specially prepared meals with safe ingredients in your area, it’s best to avoid eating out as much as possible.

If you feel like you may be missing out on social gatherings, try hosting a family dinner at home and incorporate some delicious new recipes. That way, you can control what food you are eating while still enjoying time with friends and family. If you’re heading to a gathering at someone else’s home or at a restaurant, try eating beforehand, or pack a bagged lunch and explain that you are on a special diet for a time. Most people will understand and be gracious about your health needs.

The good news is that there are so many delicious recipes that can inspire you to create some delicious home-cooked meals, while still avoiding the foods that cause reactions for you. You can order my new cookbook Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology: Nutrition Protocols and Healing Recipes to Take Charge of Your Thyroid Health, which contains some of my own favorite recipes that are Hashimoto’s-friendly and are free of common food sensitivities.

If you really don’t have time to cook, or just don’t like spending a lot of time in the kitchen, there are even some Paleo-friendly food services that allow you to customize your meal plans to your own food sensitivities. Paleo On the Go offers regular Paleo, ketogenic, and Autoimmune Paleo options, while Trifecta offers customizable Paleo and vegan options.

Adopt a Paleo-style Diet

Though being on a Paleo diet isn’t required for healing from Hashimoto’s, and everyone’s diet is going to look a little bit different to suit their individual needs, I have found a Paleo-style diet to be helpful to a lot of people with thyroid issues. First, the Paleo diet eliminates the most common food sensitivities in Hashimoto’s: gluten, soy, and oftentimes, dairy. Second, it places an emphasis on quality protein, fruits and vegetables — all of which are healing foods.

There are so many resources to be found on eating a Paleo-style diet, which makes it easy to incorporate into your daily life. For more information on what eating Paleo looks like, you can take a look at this article on Paleo diets and Hashimoto’s, or this article that dives deeper into the Autoimmune Paleo diet.

Focus on Healing Foods

It can be easy to focus on the foods that you have to give up when you uncover your food sensitivities. I know first hand how hard it can be to give up some of your favorite foods. But, I’ve found it helps to place your focus on adding in nourishing foods that help your body to heal. When the food you are eating makes you feel great, it is much easier to give up the foods that made you feel so terrible!

Some of the foods I always recommend for people with Hashimoto’s include green smoothies, bone broth, grass fed meats, fermented foods, gelatin, hot lemon water, beets, cruciferous vegetables, cilantro, fiber, green juices, berries, and turmeric. All of these foods have amazing healing qualities, and when you feel better, you will be encouraged to keep eating in a way that nurtures your body and keeps your Hashimoto’s symptoms at bay.

Can I Ever Eat Those Foods Again?

The concern that most people have when they start to eliminate foods from their diet is that they will never again be able to enjoy the foods that they love. Some of us will even avoid doing any type of food sensitivity testing because we’d rather be ignorant to the news that we can no longer eat our beloved grilled cheese sandwiches and ice cream cones!

I’ve been there. I ate a whey protein/yogurt shake for breakfast, tuna melt bagels for lunch, and loved snacking on crackers, bread, cookies, donuts, and cottage cheese at every chance I got. I was an avid baker and always attacked the bread basket at restaurants. I loved fruit but was not a big fan of meat or vegetables, so I knew I was going to miss these foods. It took seeing my test results in black and white to make the change, and all of a sudden, something shifted in me. I went out to an all-you-can-eat big Polish buffet with Pierogi (made from dough and farmer’s cheese), kopytka (dumplings), kotlety (breaded pork tenderloins), and a smorgasbord of cookies and cakes… and said my goodbyes to the foods I had grown up with.

The good news is that, after a period of elimination and gut healing, there are many foods that you will be able to add back into your diet. Depending on how many foods you are sensitive to and how damaged your gut is when you begin eliminating foods, the amount of time you’ll need to wait before reintroducing those foods will vary. Everyone starts from a different place, and your own timeline may be different than the next person’s.

The turning point for me was when I began to incorporate nutrients, digestive enzymes and more healing foods like bone broth, green juices and green smoothies into my diet. I began to feel and look better, and began to tolerate more foods. Continuing to nourish my body, while treating gut infections and toxins, allowed me to eventually incorporate more and more foods back into my diet, and I’ve now been able to reintroduce most foods I was once sensitive to!

Before reintroducing foods to your diet, I suggest eliminating that food completely for a period of 3-6 months. One study from the Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine looked at the half-lives of IgG antibodies in patients with immunodeficiencies and found that the total half life of IgG antibodies was 25.8 days. A half life refers to the amount of time required for a substance to be reduced to one-half of its previous level. Therefore, we can infer that it will take a period of several months for the antibodies to be fully eliminated from your body.

You will also want to make sure that your gut is healed by incorporating nourishing foods and addressing any gut infections that you may have. When you feel that your symptoms have abated, and you are ready to reintroduce some previously reactive foods, be sure to go slowly, introducing one food at a time to see how you feel.

What About Gluten and Dairy?

Though my body has healed to the point where I can tolerate all other foods I had previously eliminated, I still follow a gluten and dairy free diet.

In general, I believe that most people with Hashimoto’s should stay gluten free. Though there are some people that seem to be able to add gluten back into their diets without incident, the majority of people will experience adverse reactions and seem to fare better on a gluten free diet.

Similarly, dairy seems to be problematic for most people with Hashimoto’s, and I generally recommend that they continue to eliminate all dairy products from their diets. If you feel you’ve healed to a point where your gut can handle it, you can try adding in a small amount of dairy and note how you feel.

Again, each person is different and there is no “one-size-fits-all” diet that will heal everyone. You will need to experiment with what foods do and don’t work for you, and tailor your own diet to a way of eating that makes you feel great.

Next Steps

When my clients hear this information about food sensitivities, some are excited because they finally have a starting point from which to approach feeling better. Others feel overwhelmed, especially if they are dealing with debilitating fatigue, and wonder how they’re going to find the energy to incorporate a new diet into their lives. I’m here to tell you that the changes you make to your diet become easy to manage with a little time and practice, and the relief of symptoms you may experience will be more than worth it!

If you are feeling overwhelmed, I encourage you to take it slow. Try removing one food sensitivity at a time and give yourself time to adjust to the change. We are all different, with different sensitivities. What works for one person, may not work for the next. Stick with it and let your diet evolve with you — you are bound to find a way of eating that works for your lifestyle and makes you feel good.

To dig deeper into identifying food sensitivities and creating a diet that helps your body put Hashimoto’s into remission, I recommend picking up a copy of my book Hashimoto’s Protocol. In it, you’ll find clearly defined steps for uncovering and treating your own root causes.

If you’re looking for simple yet nutritious recipes that are thyroid-friendly, be sure to check out my new Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology: Nutrition Protocols and Healing Recipes to Take Charge of Your Thyroid Health cookbook!

In this book, I give my readers a crash course on how to heal your body with nutrition, filled with recipes and eating strategies that can be easily incorporated into your daily life. All the recipes remove the most harmful trigger foods and incorporate beneficial foods to help your body heal and your thyroid thrive.

As always, I wish you the best on your healing journey!

P.S. For continued updates and interaction, please become a part of our Facebook community and sign up for my newsletter to have helpful information delivered right to your email inbox. You’ll also receive occasional updates about new research, resources, giveaways, and more!

References

  1. Hadithi, M. Coeliac disease in Dutch patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and vice versa. World Journal of Gastroenterology. 2017;13(11):1715.
  2. Velentino R, Savastano S, Maglio M, Paparo F, Ferrara F, Dorato M,et.al. Markers of Potential Coeliac disease in patients with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. European Journal of Endocrinology. 2002;146(4):479-483.
  3. Sategna-Guidetti C, Volta U, Ciacci C, Usai P, Carlino A, De Franceschi L, et al. Prevalence of thyroid disorders in untreated adult celiac disease patients and effect of gluten withdrawal: an Italian multicenter study. Am J Gastroenterology. 2001 Mar;96(3):751-756.
  4. Luiz HV. IgG4-related Hashimoto’s thyroiditis – a new variant of a well-known disease. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2014;58(8):862-868.
  5. Skodje G, Sarna V, Minelle IH, Rolfsen KL, Muir JG, Gibson PR, et al.. Fructan, Rather Than Gluten, Induces Symptoms in Patients With Self-reported Non-celiac Gluten Sensitivity. Gastroenterology. 2017;S0016-5085(17):36302-36303. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2017.10.040.
  6. Schnedi W, Lackner S, Enko D, Schenk M, Mangge H, Holasek S. Non-celiac gluten sensitivity: people without celiac disease avoiding gluten-is it due to histamine intolerance?. Inflammation Research. 2017. doi:10.1007/s00011-017-1117-4.
  7. Leccioli V, Oliveri M, Romeo M, Berretta M, Rossi P. A New Proposal for the Pathogenic Mechanism of Non-Coeliac/Non-Allergic Gluten/Wheat Sensitivity: Piecing Together the Puzzle of Recent Scientific Evidence. Nutrients. 2017;9(11):1203. doi:10.3390/nu9111203.
  8. Mankarious S, Lee M, Fischer S, Pyun KH, Ochs HD, Oxelius VA, et al. The half-lives of IgG subclasses and specific antibodies in patients with primary immunodeficiency who are receiving intravenously administered immunoglobulin. J Lab Clin Med. 1988 Nov;112(5):634-40.

Note: Originally published in May 2015, this article has been revised and updated for accuracy and thoroughness.

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Comments

  1. I looked up both Alletess and MyMedLab and neither one showed the list of foods tested for in the 96 and 184 panels. Did I miss it?
    Reply

    • Nancy- Thank you so much for letting me know, I will look into it. Here is some information in the meanwhile that you may find interesting! 🙂

      The gold standard, or the most accurate test for uncovering reactive foods and individual food sensitivities is actually the Elimination Diet.

      It works better than trying a recommended dietary approach (i.e. gluten-free, Paleo, etc.) and even better than food sensitivity testing (which may be helpful in many cases, but may not be affordable for many people). The elimination diet can work as a stand-alone or in symphony with food sensitivity testing.

      ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos

      Reply

  2. I have thyroid problem and i notice that my hair is falling out plus. Plus i am tired all the time too. I have to force myself to get up and do something. I have been stressed out since i was 9 years old to now. When i was in 12 grade my family told me i was adopted and and that syressed me out more. So when i was 32 i went to the court house and i got some information and i found my real mom but my real dad died, i went to meet my real mom and of corse she was a drug head. When she was pregant with me she did every drug out there. That bothers me because because of her this is why i am stressed out really bad. I am 49 years old now and having problems . My dr. Said that i have diabetes but i dont want to believe in it. My friend takes my sugar all the time it is like in the 135 or 140 but it nerve goes up to 200. I make sure of that. I need help really bad. I ask for help by other people but i dont get it please help about my thyroid or give me some pointers on what i should do. Thank you so very much.
    Reply

  3. Oh my gosh. I read your posted and wanted to cry. I can tell you that for me I had to get to a thyroid specialist before I got rid of the fatigue, brain fog, hair loss etc got better. Start their and make sure get all the paels done. T-4. T-3. Thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins. Thyroglobulin antibody. Thyroid peroxidase AB. TSH. I pray you will find comfort soon.
    Reply

  7. If you buy gluten free replacements for junk food, that can be expensive. But pound for pound you get many more meals out of rice, lentils, beans, vegetables and meat than you would on a standard diet. Organic can be pricey sometimes, but well worth it on so many levels when you can afford it.Good luck to you.
    Reply

  8. Sometimes the fight has to come from the patient, I’ve been there was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue / Fibro several years back and also had to pay out of pocket to see an Alternative Dr. And there also has to be a willingness to be proactive with their health. What you can do is go on an elimination diet on your own. There are several books on the topic. And ‘m not going to fluff it, it’s can be a challenge. If you have the ability to have an FSA or an HSA you can start with that to have pretax dollars deducted to go to an account to pay if doing the elimination on your own doesn’t provide you with any relief.
    Reply

  9. You don’t have to pay for tests! Just cut the foods out of your diet for a couple of weeks and then try adding them back in, one at a time, for three days and see what kind of reaction you have. I am starting a garden and buying bountiful baskets to eat cleaner. It’s not nearly as exensive as doctors after eating processed junk.
    Reply

  11. Any experience with ELISA/ ACT Biotechnologies LRA test for food sensitivities? My doctor would prefer that one over Alletess.
    Reply

    • Mindi- The gold standard, or the most accurate test for uncovering reactive foods and individual food sensitivities is actually the Elimination Diet.

      It works better than trying a recommended dietary approach (i.e. gluten-free, Paleo, etc.) and even better than food sensitivity testing (which may be helpful in many cases, but may not be affordable for many people). The elimination diet can work as a stand-alone or in symphony with food sensitivity testing. Here is an article you may find interesting! 🙂

      ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos

      Reply

  13. How does Alletess compare to stool tests by EnteroLab since most of the sensitivities show up in the intestines?
    Reply

  14. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, Leaky Gut as well add a severe candida infection after being on antibiotics for 8 months for a kidney infection. My life has been completely changed by this illness. My hair has fallen out, I’m exhausted all the time, I have headaches on a regular basis and I have had the worst bowel issues ever! When I have a Hashi’s flare up, I feel like I have the worst case of flu! I sweat profusely, I can barely pull myself out of bed, I feel horribly sick, joint aches, brain fog, nausea, muscle weaknesses, breathless, anxiety, depression. It also makes my blood sugar go way up (I’m a diabetic. Hate it!) I’m having flare ups often (at least 2 per month). It can last a few days or a couple of weeks. I’m on 15mg of Armour Throid and 20mcg of Liothyronine. I feel lousy most of the time and at the end of my rope. Because of serious gut issues, I ate the same thing everyday for 2yrs( homemade chicken soup and baked chicken and green beans. All organic) I’ve started adding new foods lately but am still having flare ups. Not as often but just as debilitating. Is there something I should be doing that I’m not? These flare ups are ruining my life! Any suggestions of what I can do to decrease them? I’ll do anything!! Thank you for the hope you give by all the information that you provide. I really would appreciate any information you could provide.
    Reply

  15. Jackie, if you have Hashimoto, you are not supposed to take Armour Thyroid. Whoever prescribed it to you was WRONG. ! By taking Aromour thyroid you are feeding the antibodies !!!!!
    No wonder that you have flare ups ! As in the above comments, stay away from all the food sensitivities (and in particular gluten). You need to take “pure” hormones not “glandulars”. Can you find a good doctor who understands what Hashimoto means ?
    Reply

  16. What is your proof for saying that glandular thyroid medication will “feed” Hashimoto antibodies? I have never heard this and it doesn’t sound true to me.
    Reply

  17. Cristina–I don’t know who told you that nonsense about Armour, but it is BS. Without the Armour I am in much worse condition and my antibodies are worse.
    Reply

  19. Cristina,
    Thank you for the info. I’m not sure what “pure” thyroid hormones are. Can you elaborate on them so I can talk to my doctor about it or start looking for a new doctor.
    Thanks!
    Reply

  20. I am also loosing my hair and I have been eating gluten free for 3 years and I still get sick on something. Spices, dressings, ketchup,etc. Does the liothyronine really help
    Reply

  21. I found out I was reactive to chicken and can no longer eat it. Oddly enough, I can tolerate eggs in moderation, but not chicken or chicken broth. Going gluten free, chicken free, and cutting dairy almost completely out of my diet (certain cheeses are okay but others are disastrous for me) have made a gigantic difference. My flares felt like horrible cases of the flu. Sometimes I couldn’t get out of bed. I take 60mg of Armour in the AM and 25 of Levothyroxine at night. When I’m really struggling to function, an additional 30 mg of Armour in the afternoon helps but if I make sure I don’t get contaminated, I can avoid needing that dose.
    Reply

  22. I believe you wrote this article about ME!
    It was so clearly written and has helped me to understand exactly how/why I’m feeling the way I do right now.
    Can’t wait to get your book Root Cause and Elimination Diet too!
    I enjoy your articles!
    Reply

    • Tammy- Thank you so much for your support. I’m looking forward to hearing your progress on this page. Make sure to take the book slow, take notes, highlight, and establish a baseline when making changes. 🙂

      Reply

  23. Your story is my story from start to finish. I like Heathet….maybe Heather don’t have an income that would give me the luxury of charging my food to gluten free. But I am willing to try. I am going to call my insurance company and talk to them to see if what I can and can not do….Thank you for my story which is your story that I am claiming. .♡♡♡
    Reply

  24. Just a note to those of you who say you cannot afford to eat Gluten-free. Remember, anything processed is going to be more expensive, however, if you make your food from scratch it is cheaper than going out and buying mixes and such. Scratch cooking is more healthy anyway. Processed foods, whether they are gluten-free or not are still processed foods. Scratch cooking may take a little longer, but it’s really not that bad. My husband has had Celiac Disease since 2005.My daughter was just recently diagnosed with Hashimoto’s but does not have Celiac Disease. Like what is stated here, I believe she has gluten sensitivities as well.
    Reply

  25. Does salt cause the body to retain chlorine and age to tissue more rapidly? I’ve been reintroducing salt after eating little for 30 years and my skin is looking dehydrated and I’m not as thirsty or urinate or drink near as much water as when I minimize salt. I think we should use salt to retain fluids at bedtime, but avoid it while awake and flush/hydrate more, plus avoid chlorinated drinks, hoy tubs etc.
    Reply

    • Jan- In the United States and many European countries that add iodine to salt or other foods, Hashimoto’s is the leading cause of hypothyroidism, and not iodine deficiency. While the average American may consume between 6 and 10 grams of salt per day, largely due to processed foods, it is difficult to estimate the amount of iodine that is contained in the Standard American Diet, due to uncertainty of whether the prepared food was made with iodized salt or non-iodized salt. Hashimoto’s is a complicated condition with many layers that need to be unraveled. While conventional medicine only looks at each body system as a separate category, and is only concerned with the thyroid’s ability to produce thyroid hormone, Hashimoto’s is more than just hypothyroidism. I wanted to pass along these articles that I wrote. I hope they help 🙂

      WHERE DO I START WITH HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/where-do-i-start-with-hashimotos/

      OVERCOMING HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/overcoming-hashimotos-in-the-new-year/

      Reply

  26. Going gluten free is not expensive. Don’t buy any processed junk and replace it with meats and fresh veggies. You’ll end up spending the same amount or less. The allergy test is covered by Blue Cross. I went gluten free when my Hubby was not working. It seems daunting, but it can be done. I appreciate this site for its well written info.
    Reply

  27. I was forced to go on an elimination diet because of severe leaky gut issues. As I said in an earlier comment, I literally ate the same thing every single day for over 2 yrs, homemade chicken soup and baked chicken and green beans, all organic. I’ve also paid thousands of dollars out of pocket going to Naturopathic doctors because my husband’s insurance doesn’t cover “Alternative Medicine”. I’m on disability because of this illness, so money is very tight. We don’t have a FSA/HSA because his company got rid of that benefit last year. I’m paying a small fortune in supplements every month, (which means some bills aren’t getting paid) so that I can work on getting better and healing my body. I’ve bought several books, listened to online seminars and read tons of information from experts to try and learn as much as I can about this disease so that I can get a handle on it. I’m currently seeing a Naturopathic doctor who is very nice but I feel this condition is beyond her skill level because of how complicated it can be. Finding a doctor that is skillful, will listen to me without being dismissive and isn’t going to break the bank, (we gotta eat, don’t we?) is almost impossible. I also know that any doctor like this is going to be an out of pocket expensive, so I have to consider that too. Like millions of other people out there, I’ve been battling and feel like I don’t have too many options available to me due to the expense of finding a good doctor and the financial limitations my husband and I face daily. I’m up for the challenge and not afraid to fight for my health but there’s only so much I can do on my own.
    Reply

  28. HASHIMOTO’s been nasty and has completely destroyed my thyroid. I have been on a gluten free diet for four months. I put myself on it since my doctor seems to be lacking a brain, so I am looking for another doctor. How can doing all of what you have said help my thyroid if it is completely destroyed? Do I still have Hashimoto Disease and, if I do, what does it now do since my thyroid is destroyed? I couldn’t find answers to that in your book. Anything that you can tell me about Hashimoto’s with no thyroid left and which med I should try to get my doctor to give me when I see him in a week. I like being proactive. Thank you so much!!!
    Reply

    • Donna- Most thyroid conditions result from the immune system attacking the thyroid because the immune system is out of balance. Even when the thyroid is taken out surgically, is ‘dead’, or treated with radioactive iodine the autoimmunity still persists in most cases. Many people will have their thyroids removed, and will develop new autoimmune disorders such as Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, etc. The immune system just finds a different target. We need to re-balance the immune system to prevent this (sometimes the autoimmunity can be reversed as well). The gut determines your immune system. With the exception of discussing proper thyroid medication dosing, the majority of my website and my book focuses on balancing the immune system. The info I present is based on my own research and journey for overcoming my autoimmune thyroid condition.

      HASHIMOTO’S ROOT CAUSE BOOK
      http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20

      Reply

  29. I am unable to access the food panel links. I wondered if that is because i live in NY State??? Is there any other way to see this link/information? Thanks!
    Reply

    • Alice- The gold standard, or the most accurate test for uncovering reactive foods and individual food sensitivities is actually the Elimination Diet.

      It works better than trying a recommended dietary approach (i.e. gluten-free, Paleo, etc.) and even better than food sensitivity testing (which may be helpful in many cases, but may not be affordable for many people). The elimination diet can work as a stand-alone or in symphony with food sensitivity testing. Here is an article you may find interesting! 🙂

      ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos

      Reply

  30. I have an underactive thyroid. I can give up some foods but I need my dairy products. I can cut down on dairy .lately I’ve had no appetite.
    Reply

  31. I once felt as you do about dairy, but is eating them worth feeling terrible? When I went without them–drinking almond milk or a combination of almond/coconut milk and eating goat’s milk cheese–I felt soooo much better. Eating dairy cheese was enough to bring back brain fog and joint pain. I finally figured out it wasn’t worth it.
    Reply

  32. Yep, me too. Hashimotos, celiac, sensitive to dairy, grains, night shades and sugar. Functional medicine doctor finally helped, regular doc did not help, just prescribed meds. So much more energy, depression has lifted. There are a lot of wonderful food naturally gluten free, that don’t cost any more.
    Reply

  33. Also my skin cleared after not eating dairy for a few weeks, I had painful cystic acne for years, and my skin now is perfectly clear.
    Reply

  34. My biggest question is what the heck can one eat. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s and noticed through many trial and errors that I have many food allergies as well. What can one eat with this diagnosis?
    Reply

  35. I have been sick since I was 13. Come to find out I had spru and sensitivity to dairy and to gluten. I had joint pain, headaches,reflux, stomach cramps always and very crabby most days. Many Dr appointments and the dr.s don’t think that is the problem. Four of the dr.s asked if it was in my head. Now I eat cooked fresh vegetables, meats, corn noodles (the best ones), rice and almond milk. So who will listen to us. How long or how sick does a person have to be to get someone to listen. Is there any other suggestion I can use to get someone to listen to us?
    Reply

  36. My daughter & I both need all the info we can get. Hashi’s is hereditary! Not only in women either. This is the first time I have seen this disease addressed since diagnosed 30 years ago. Than God &;you.
    Reply

  37. I have been told different things about avoiding gluten from my endo and my regular doctor.. My endo said don’t worry, even though I had a slightly positive blood test, and my doctor said to avoid it. Then he said don’t worry if my stomach isn’t bothering me! I got diagnosed a little over three years ago and had a follicular tumor removed on the right side of my thyroid. I’m currently on 137mcg/day and taking vitamin D. My results for my blood test in 2012:
    Weak Positive, Celiac diagnoses questionable. IgA, Serum – 357 (70-310 is normal) Gliadin Ab, IgA 22 (0-19 is normal) TTG Ab, IgA 5 (0-19) TTG Ab, IgG 4 (0-19)
    Reply

    • Katrina- The gold standard, or the most accurate test for uncovering reactive foods and individual food sensitivities is actually the Elimination Diet.

      It works better than trying a recommended dietary approach (i.e. gluten-free, Paleo, etc.) and even better than food sensitivity testing (which may be helpful in many cases, but may not be affordable for many people). The elimination diet can work as a stand-alone or in symphony with food sensitivity testing. Here is an article you may find interesting! 🙂
      ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos

      Reply

  38. I just got my results back from the 184 panel, do I need to avoid all foods I have low, moderate and high reactivity to? I can’t find a lot online for the validity of these types of tests. Do you anything to point me to? I read that IGg antibodies are elevated just by eating certain foods and it doesn’t indicate an allergy or sensitivity. Thanks in advance!
    Reply

  41. I was told the best thyroid medication, which is suppose to be “more” natural was Armour Thyroid. My naturpathic doctor prescribed it for me at a very low dose. I know it’s not the best but was told it was better than the others. My natural doctor moved and I go to a great medical one and he has kept me on the same things. I’m now starting to get joint pain. If I increase my water intake, I mean a lot it helps. I have a big family that I need to take care of and don’t know how I would function if I didn’t take some medication.
    Reply

  42. I went Gluten free in January and I can’t believe how much better I feel. I have Hashimoto’s and the MTHFR Gene. I just learned about a flour that a lot of people who have gluten sensitivities are able to digest. It is an ancient flour that has not been modified so it is a lot easier on our digestion. The flour is called Einkorn. I tried it last week and did not have any reaction to it whereas I do have a terrible reaction to gluten. Has anyone tried this flour and successfully able to use it?
    Reply

  43. Dear Izabella!

    I’m thinking about to make a food sensitivity test. I live in the UK. Which test do you recommend for me?
    I’m on paleo diet for more than a year, and on AIP for 10 months. But I feel that something not good for me…

    Thanks for your help!
    Anna

    Reply

    • Anna – thank you for following this page and your support.

      Here a links to the Food Sensitivity tests I recommend:

      184 Food Panel
      https://thyroidrx.mymedlab.com/dr-wentz/184-food-allergy-igg-alletess-trx

      96 Food Panel
      https://thyroidrx.mymedlab.com/dr-wentz/96-food-allergy-igg-alletess-trx

      You may also be interested in this article:

      ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos

      Have you read my book, Hashimoto’s The Root Cause? Here’s the link in case you’re interested.

      http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20

      Reply

      • Dear Izabella!

        Thank you for your help and your quick answer!

        I have already ordered your book. It’s arrived today!:) I can’t wait to read about your amaizing researches! I really would like to understand what is my root cause…

        I’ve seen these two tests in your article as well, but I thought they are not available in the UK. Now I see they are!:) Thanks for your recommendation!

        I have already written that I’m on paleo and now on strict AIP for a while (10 months). I think the AIP lifestyle does not give complete solution to my problems. My anti-TPO is still high and I do not tolerate ‘good foods’ since I’m on this diet. Of course it has many benefits and positive effects on my life as well.

        What do you think? Should I reintroduce the avoided foods before I make the food sensitivity test? How should I do it? How long time/How many times should I eat these foods before make the test to get right results?
        I would choose the 184 food panel test. I don’t want to eat gluten or soy… I know the life is better without these, but I’m curious if I have food intolerance to diary, seeds and other gluten free grains (oat, rice…) that I may reintroduce one day after the strict AIP…

        I would be grateful for your thoughts and advice!

        Anna

        Reply

  44. Dear Dr.Wentz, I don’t know if you’ve already received this question, but I wanted to ask you:
    If going gluten free can lead you to reduce the dose of levothyroxine, how much time is it necessary for this to happen? You write about a 3 month period of “trial”. Is it enough? Can the need for less hormone replacement occur earlier than that? And, more importantly, is it gradual or does it happen all of a sudden?

    Reply

  45. Hi Dr Izabella,
    Thank you so much for your amazing hard work with regards to all things thyroid!
    I haven’t been diagnosed with a thyroid condition but I am well aware that my thyroid is very unhappy:(
    I believe I may have a dairy sensitivity and I’m going to give up dairy to find out. I have two questions: will I eventually be able to eat dairy again, once my gut has healed? And, can I eat butter? I know butter is dairy but it is included in the Paleo diet, which excludes all other dairy.
    Thank you again.
    Tamsyn

    Reply

  46. Thank you very much for such an interesting article, Isabella!
    I have had a blood allergy test done and apparently am allergic to hazelnuts and birch pollen, with a cross allergy to apples, pears, cherries, walnuts, carrots and cinnamon (although I have never noticed any of these).
    I am vegan and gluten-free, and after this I am now really desperate. What is there left to eat? I eat apples daily and cannot imagine living without them, but will if I have to. But I am breastfeeding and burn a lot of calories…I just feel very limited now with what I can still eat. Does this allergy mean I should avoid those (I have hay fever, so I guess my mucosas do react), or not necessarily?

    Reply

  47. I have been tested for foodsensitivities. I have a whole list nut gluten is not on that list. Can i relay in that list or is it still possible that gluten is a problemen for my thyroidproblems?
    (Since I eat according to that list I have no stomacproblems or diarree. But it is not going Well with my thyroid, muscles and anxiety. It got worce after my best griend dyed)

    Reply

    • Ingrid – thank you for following this page.

      It depends on the person and their individualized food sensitivities. Some people go into remission just gluten free; others may have to go as far as autoimmune Paleo. The most common triggers in Hashimoto’s are nutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities, intestinal permeability (leaky gut), stress, an impaired ability to get rid of toxins and in some cases, infections. Optimizing your health starts with food. Figuring out which foods nourish you, and which ones cause you harm is the single most important thing you can learn in your health journey.

      I’ve found that recognizing and eliminating reactive foods can be a life-changer for most people with Hashimoto’s.

      Reactive foods trigger an inflammatory response in the GI tract, leading to malabsorption of nutrients (gluten sensitivity, in particular, has been implicated in causing a Selenium deficiency, a well-known risk factor for Hashimoto’s), and can also produce intestinal permeability whenever they are eaten.

      Most people will see a dramatic reduction in gut symptoms, brain symptoms, skin breakouts, and pain by eliminating the foods they are sensitive to. Some will also see a significant reduction in thyroid antibodies! An additional subset of people will actually be able to get their Hashimoto’s into complete remission just by getting off the foods they react to, normalizing their thyroid antibodies, and some even normalizing their thyroid function!

      BEST DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S AND HYPOTHYROIDISM
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/best-diet-for-hashimotos-hypothyroidism

      TAILORING YOUR THYROID DIET
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/tailoring-your-thyroid-diet-to-your-needs

      DAIRY AND HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/got-hashimotos-you-may-want-to-reconsider-dairy

      Reply

  48. I’m half way through reading the Root Cause and also purchased Hashimoto’s Protocol, which I haven’t begun yet. I began Paleo diet about 3 weeks ago. I received results of my 96 Food Panel today, which lists sensitivity to foods that I’ve been eating while on Paleo diet (spinach, green peas, and pepper). I’ll remove those food now. Can I add other foods that ARE listed on the Paleo and AIPaleo back to my diet if sensitivity test showed no reactivity? For example, I tested 0 for gluten, 0 for rice, 0 for soybeans. OR should I still stay away from gluten, soy, rice? From Root Cause book, there are recommendations to steer away from gluton.

    Reply

  49. Dear Dr.Wentz, We know that a gluten sensitive person that goes gluten free for at least a couple of weeks and then tries a “challenge” of gluten reintroduction will likely experience symptoms he didn’t have before, like pain or bloating. I wanted to ask you, if someone keeps eating gluten beyond that moment, will those symptoms be likely to persist or will they disappear over time? I ask this as a general consideration

    Reply

    • Ombretta – thank you for following this page. In general, most people with autoimmunity need to find their food sensitivities, heal from infections, and eat organic; however, bioindividuality is important, not everyone will respond to the same interventions. The foods that heal one person, may not be the same for another. It might seem like a lot to give up, but feeling your symptoms fade away can make it feel like it’s all worthwhile. And don’t forget it’s not forever! You will be reintroducing these foods once your gut heals.

      WHAT’S CAUSING YOUR LEAKY GUT https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/whats-causing-your-leaky

      Reply

  50. Hi, Dr Izabella. I have read on a multiple occasions that butter actually is O.K. to consume going dairy free diet since it is mostly fat and does not cause intolerance particularly if consumed in small amounts.

    I am quite severely sick for almost four years, recently developed immediate reactions to food sensitivities. Am gluten, grain, dairy free. Found to be sensitive to nightshades, celery, pineapple, bananas, seeds and nuts too (I am sure i missed something). I go itchy or tingly straight away after consuming those. However butter does not cause reaction, at least immediate. Still having fatigue, brain fog, mood changes, muscle issues etc. So my question is: should I totally avoid butter? Very little of food is left that satisfies me. Anyway…

    Thank you so much for your work and your enthusiasm you share with others, I wish I back to my normal self too.

    By the way, my TSH recently was 1.06mlU/L, two years ago 0.74 mlU/L. My GP says my thyroid is okey.

    Thanks again, Ruta, Ireland

    Reply

    • Ruta – thank you for reaching out! In general, most people with autoimmunity need to find their food sensitivities, heal from infections, and eat organic; however, bioindividuality is important, because not everyone will respond to the same interventions. The foods that heal one person, may not be the same for another. It might seem like a lot, but feeling your symptoms fade away can make it feel like it’s all worthwhile. And don’t forget it’s not forever! You will be reintroducing these foods once your gut heals. Here is a link that might help:

      WHAT’S CAUSING YOUR LEAKY GUT
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/whats-causing-your-leaky

      Reply

  51. Hi Izabella, thank you for the books and the information in General! You are doing a very important thing to the people.
    I am 37 years old and I have a Hashimoto. I am eating healthy (thank to my parents), I felt good and didn’t take my sickness seriously. Now I decided to help my body and so I am going to start gluten free (before I was just dairy free, no junk food, separate meals no carbs and protein in one meal). I have got both your books and I am reading it now. I want to make food allergies test due to realize I can have some weird allergen like pineapple or banana or etc. Do you recommend to pass that test in those labs only? And how to be with the kids meals? I try to buy organic products, I am cooking at home, but still some milk products and pastas they asked for…is the buckwheat, oatmeal and quinoa are better then rice, corn and wheat? Thanks!!!

    Reply

    • Alena – thank you for reaching out. Did you know that reactive foods trigger an inflammatory response in the GI tract, leading to malabsorption of nutrients (gluten sensitivity, in particular, has been implicated in causing a Selenium deficiency, a well-known risk factor for Hashimoto’s), and can also produce intestinal permeability whenever they are eaten?

      Most people will see a dramatic reduction in gut symptoms, brain symptoms, skin breakouts, and pain by eliminating the foods they are sensitive to. Some will also see a significant reduction in thyroid antibodies! An additional subset of people will actually be able to get their Hashimoto’s into complete remission just by getting off the foods they react to, normalizing their thyroid antibodies, and some even normalizing their thyroid function! Here are a couple of articles you may find helpful.

      FOOD SENSITIVITIES AND HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/food-sensitivities-and-hashimotos

      AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/autoimmune-paleo-diet

      Reply

  52. Thank you Izabella, I am strongly believe I will be one of these people with your help! How often do you think it’s nessesery to redone the test for good allergy ? Ones a year?

    Reply

  53. I have an important question before I spend the money on the testing.
    How is the MRT food sensitivity test in comparison? I have heard its much more accurate.
    I had IgG food sensitivity testing 13 years ago and its taken me a long time to have the money to spend on another test, so before I do so, I need a professional opinion.
    I am chronically ill for 14+ years, autoimmune, Hashi, etc, hypothyroid, and always assimilation of nutrient issues, and I firmly believe my gut is the answer to healing,
    But I have been on one form of restricted diet or elimination for this entire time and I am sick of it. Just want the test, thanks.

    Reply

  54. Do you need to be consuming the foods you’re tested for in order to get an accurate answer? If you’ve eliminated certain foods from your diet and haven’t eaten them in quiet some time, the test would show a false negative even if you are indeed reacting to them? If that would be the case, in order to get an accurate picture, would we need to reintroduce ‘suspicious’ foods before testing? I’m talking about different nuts, nightshades etc, but not gluten and dairy and anything we’re sure it causes an immune reaction. Thanks😊

    Reply

  55. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s a couple years ago and, about 6 months ago, completely eliminated A WHOLE BUNCH of possible trigger foods – gluten, dairy, soy, nightshades. I’ve seen significant improvement in my numbers, but would like to now do the Alletess food sensitivity test. Do I need to reintroduce the foods back into my diet in order for my actual triggers to be detected by the test?

    Reply

  56. Good day Izabella . I did IgG 95 Common Food Panel and the result is not bad))) I have Hashimoto and low cortisol. Just wanna clarify the result- there 3 sections- Low, Moderate ,Avoid . The food from Low – eat every day . Moderate – eat ones each 4 days ? That’s correct? Avoid – completely , don’t eat . And , base on this test Candida Screen of Candida Albicans is moderate – 306 my result , reference range – low 380 . My result belongs to moderate 120-380 . Any way, I did anticandida program , but did not have test after this program. So, should I concern about Candida and repeat the anticandida program again if I don’t have any symptoms ? I did this test on January 2017, and program on March-April . Thank you very much in advance .

    Reply

  57. If I have Hashimoto’s and my gallbladder has been removed does that effect my treatment. I take medication for thyroid, my levels show good. I still have some symptoms, but not sure if it is Hashimoto’s or no gallbladder. I had acid reflux before having the gallbladder removed, but that went away with removal. I had IBS before, and it comes and goes now, but seems different. I have not changed my diet.

    Reply

    • Bre – thank you so much for sharing your journey. I am sorry you are struggling with this. <3 I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician to be a part of your own health care team. It’s an entire medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying root causes and prevent serious chronic disease rather than treating individual disease symptoms. I believe that everyone needs to find a practitioner that will let him/her be a part of the healthcare team. You want someone that can guide you, that will also listen to you and your concerns. You want someone that’s open to thinking outside of the box and who understands that you may not fit in with the standard of care. It's a good idea to ask some standard questions when contacting a new doctor for the first time. Something else to consider is you can work with a functional doctor remotely, via Skype. You could also contact your local pharmacist or compounding pharmacy, who may be able to point you to a local doctor who has a natural functional approach. But I encourage you to keep looking for the right one for you! Here are some resources you might find helpful.

      CLINICIAN DATABASE
      https://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/pages/clinician-database

      FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
      https://ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/

      http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/recommended-compounding-pharmacies.html

      Reply

  58. I do have Hashimoto’s. I’ve been having some issues lately and am really interested in the food allergy testing. I am planning to order the 96 food kit. They mention something about needing to have eaten the food in like the last 28 days to see any reaction. Or perhaps I misunderstood this. Can you tell me if this is true? I’ve been off dairy for about a month. I’m just wondering if I need to consume what I’m most concerned about to see a true reaction.

    Reply

    • Sheri – thank you so much for reaching out. I would recommend that you contact the company and follow their directions. The gold standard or the most accurate test for uncovering reactive foods and individual food sensitivities is actually the Elimination Diet. It works better than trying a recommended dietary approach (i.e. gluten-free, Paleo, etc.) and even better than food sensitivity testing (which may be helpful in many cases but may not be affordable for many people). The elimination diet can work as a stand-alone or in symphony with food sensitivity testing. You may find this article interesting! 🙂

      ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos

      Reply

  59. What about coconut or almond milk? Does that contain the same proteins, casein and whey, that are harmful to Hashimoto’s sufferers?

    Reply

  60. I took the Alletess food sensitivity and it was very helpful! One question I have is at the bottom of the results page there is a note stating “0.185 to 0.215 should be considered equivocal”. In your practice do you consider anything over 0.185 a sensitivity?

    Reply

    • Kristen – thank you for reaching out. Please, understand it would not be legal or appropriate for me to give any type of medical advice here. I hope you understand. I have to be very careful and responsible. I recommend that you talk to your practitioner.

      Reply

  61. Hi Dr. Wentz, I have recently taken the Alletess 184 Food Panel, which is an IgG panel. I came out reactive to 33 random foods. No reactions to Dairy except for Egg White and Egg Yolk, and no reactions to Wheat. I still intend to eliminate both gluten and dairy. My reaction to the Eggs were a Class 1 reaction, as were all other reactions except for Clams and Pineapples which were Class 2 reactions. I had no Class 3 reactions. Am I really supposed to eliminate 33 random foods, especially when almost all of them are Class 1 reactions? This is confusing. Thank you for everything you do!

    Reply

    • Patty – thank you for reaching out and sharing. <3 I am not able to advise you on the Alletess panel without a comprehensive health assessment. I recommend that you discuss this with your personal doctor. The most common food sensitivities found in people with Hashimoto’s are gluten, dairy, soy, grains (corn, in particular), nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers), nuts, and seeds. Reactive foods trigger an inflammatory response in the GI tract, leading to malabsorption of nutrients (gluten sensitivity, in particular, has been implicated in causing a Selenium deficiency, a well-known risk factor for Hashimoto's), and can also produce intestinal permeability whenever they are eaten. Most people will see a dramatic reduction in gut symptoms, brain symptoms, skin breakouts, and pain by eliminating the foods they are sensitive to. Some will also see a significant reduction in thyroid antibodies! An additional subset of people will actually be able to get their Hashimoto's into complete remission just by getting off the foods they react to, normalizing their thyroid antibodies, and some even normalizing their thyroid function! Here are a couple of articles you may find helpful.

      FOOD SENSITIVITIES AND HASHIMOTO'S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/food-sensitivities-and-hashimotos

      AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/autoimmune-paleo-diet

      Reply

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